The planning system is set for radical reform under the new Labour Government, raising concerns over the status of the Green Belt and preserving the local countryside in Surrey.
Here within Surrey Heath, over 44% of the land within Surrey Heath Borough is designated as Metropolitan Green Belt, with the boundaries of the Green Belt having been first established through the Surrey Heath Local Plan in 1987.
The Labour Government intends to re-designate parts of the Green Belt, areas that it describes as "poor quality and ugly areas", to allow new homes to be built. Part of this includes the redistribution of housing from London and large urban areas to other parts of the country.
In order to force development on these areas, there are proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework and the planning system. This will see the current local housing needs model dramatically altered.
The target for Surrey Heath Borough Council will increase by 106%, from 320 under the current model to 658 in the proposed model, and in Guildford Borough Council the target will increase by 48%, from 743 under the current model to 1,102 in the proposed model. Under the Labour Government's plans, if a Council's housing targets cannot be met, existing Green Belt land will be re-designated as 'Grey Belt'.
There is a gap between population growth and housing needs in urban areas, with house prices in urban areas as a percentage of gross income being far higher due to demand outstripping supply. Given that Britain has some of the least dense urban areas in Europe, building up rather than out would allow for the Green Belt to be preserved and prevent an endless urban sprawl.
In 2022/23, only 35,300 new homes were delivered in London, far below the London Plan's target of of 52,000 per annum. Savill’s estimates 90,000 per annum are needed in order to “meet housing need and improve affordability”. The right housing should be built in the right area, meeting the needs of the local community. Ripping up the Green Belt is not the answer.
Commenting, Cllr Paul Deach, Surrey County Councillor for Mytchett, Frimley Green & Deepcut, said:
"The Labour Government has unveiled plans to construct half a million homes, and Surrey Heath has been singled out as a prime target under the new Labour 'Grey Belt' strategy.
"When I think where potential sites might be in Surrey Heath, Fairoaks Airport stands out, but most others sites are smaller, such as the land opposite Dettingen Park in Deepcut where Netflix often film. This has me concerned about a future dominated by low quality high-rise buildings.
"I completely accept there is a serious need for new homes. However, local infrastructure is struggling to cope as it is. Residents I represent tell me roads are congested, that they struggle to get GP appointments and local school places.
"This all comes at a time when I hear today that there is uncertainty over the redevelopment plans for Frimley Park Hospital.
"Building low quality homes on every green space in Surrey Heath may solve one problem but in so doing it will only exasperate/intensify existing problems and create a whole load of new issues. The direction of the new government is a concern to me. I don't think being concerned about supporting infrastructure is NIMBYism."
